Male dentists accounted for 65% of health to practise (FtP) considerations raised in 2024, as proven by newly-released GDC statistics.
The Normal Dental Council’s (GDC) annual Health to Practise (FtP) Statistical Report for 2024 revealed that 1,401 new considerations have been acquired final 12 months 12 months. This is a rise of 8% from 2023.
Of all considerations raised, 88% have been have been resolved at evaluation and case examiner phases, with 12% progressing to a listening to.
A complete of 18 dental professionals have been faraway from the register following follow committee hearings. This determine has stayed the identical because the earlier 12 months however decreased from 25 since 2020.
Theresa Thorp, govt director of regulation on the GDC, mentioned: ‘Our annual statistical report supplies insights into our health to practise processes and outcomes. The info helps us perceive developments and patterns in considerations raised about dental professionals, which in flip informs our regulatory strategy.
‘This 12 months’s report continues our dedication to transparency in presenting strong knowledge that may profit the broader dental sector. We’re centered on utilizing this knowledge to assist us determine any problems with discrimination, bias or racism within the reporting or referral of considerations to us.’
Who’s probably to have health to practise considerations raised in opposition to them?
Six in 10 (61%) of circumstances have been raised by sufferers and members of the general public, making them the first supply of considerations. Issues reported by members of the career have persistently elevated. In 2024, this accounted for 9% of referrals, up from 8% in 2023 and 6% in 2022.
Professionals in London and the south east of England have been probably to have considerations raised in opposition to them. Whereas making up solely 14% of the register, they have been the topic of twenty-two% of FtP considerations.
The 30% of Asian or Asian British dentists on the register additionally noticed a disproportionately excessive variety of considerations raised at 34%.
Youthful dental professionals have been discovered to be much less prone to have considerations raised in opposition to them. One in 5 (21%) FtP considerations have been raised in opposition to dentists aged 51 to 60.
Timeliness targets missed
Issues have beforehand been raised concerning the timeliness of FtP proceedings. In 2024, GDC targets for timeliness have been met in lower than half of circumstances.
The median time for preliminary hearings to start out after referral was 10 months and 6 days. The GDC’s goal for this time interval is 9 months, which was met in 43% of circumstances.
The GDC additionally makes use of a goal of 9 months for the interval between the beginning of a listening to and reaching an preliminary consequence. In 2024, this was met in 46% of circumstances.
By December 2024, there have been 203 circumstances awaiting an preliminary listening to.
The complete report could be discovered right here.
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